A wall of noise hit the royal couple as they weaved through Windsor's quaint streets, but the highlight was undoubtedly the two-and-a-half mile stretch down the Long Walk back towards the castle.

As the carriage pulled away from the crowds into the gated grounds of Windsor Castle, Meghan seemed to be in awe of the scenes, lifting her hand to her chest and saying "wow".

While Harry also seemed to need some help. According to lip reader Tina Lannin, he said to his bride: "I'm ready for a drink now."

A wall of noise hit the royal couple as they weaved through Windsor's quaint streets, but the highlight was undoubtedly the two-and-a-half mile stretch down the Long Walk back towards the castle (pictured)

Having said their vows in front of their wedding guests and the watching world at today's royal wedding, the young couple will embark upon a lifetime of royal tours as a married couple - and wasted no time getting started.

The newlyweds' royal wedding schedule saw them undertake a tour of Windsor immediately after their nuptials and just as Harry and Meghan were officially married, the horse-drawn carriage was brought into Horseshoe Cloister.

Tens of thousands of well-wishers gathered in Windsor hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple who have spent weeks hiding away from the public gaze.

And as blazing sunshine shone down on Windsor, after days of camping out for the best positions, the sea of supporters finally got what they had been waiting for - the newest member of the royal family Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry.

They kissed on the steps outside St George's Chapel to rapturous applause before Prince Harry helped his wife into the carriage.

Princess Charlotte waved them off and they were met with a roar as the national anthem was played in the background.

Wearing his white gloves, Prince Harry waved and saluted at the masses as Ms Markle - the newly-titled Duchess of Sussex - held her bouquet in her right hand and waved with her left.

Having passed by the dignitaries, they made their way out of the castle grounds where members of the public waited patiently for their first look of the newlyweds.

As the horse-drawn carriage slowly made its way around the outskirts of Windsor Castle, Prince Harry and Ms Markle chatted to each other, perhaps anticipating the wave of noise they were about to be hit with.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and the Duchess of Sussex in the Ascot Landau carriage during the procession after getting married St George's ChapelCredit:
Chris Jackson/Getty

Union Flags were proudly waved and thousands of well-wishers, packed tightly on the pavements, cheered loudly and filmed the historical moment.

Some ignored requests by the police not to throw confetti as some paper was thrown in the direction of the carriage, which was followed by the household cavalry.

As bunting fluttered in the breeze above them, the carriage was sandwiched by dozens of horses.

Royal fans were seen hanging out of windows in an attempt to get the best view of Prince Harry and Ms Markle and around every corner was a new flurry of noise.

The Union Flag was not the only symbol on view. The international nature of the estimated 120,000 crowd in Windsor meant the US' stars and stripes as well as the Canadian maple leaf were both prominent on the streets.

There was a contingency adverse weather plan, which was made redundant by blazing 20C sunshine.

Windsor sparkled and the closing shot was the procession making its way up the Long Walk back towards Windsor Castle with the greenery either side rammed with tens of thousands of supporters.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are pulled through the streets of Windsor in their horse-drawn carriageCredit:
Paul Grover

The Long Walk, all 2.65miles of it, was the highlight of the 30-minute journey around Windsor and a Mexican Wave of excitement followed them back to the great building in which they became husband and wife.

Prince Harry and Ms Markle left the crowds behind as they made their way through Cambridge Gate and back into Windsor Castle.

As the carriage pulled away from the crowds into the gated grounds of Windsor Castle, Meghan seemed to be in awe of the scenes, lifting her hand to her chest and saying "wow".

While Harry also seemed to need some help.

According to lip reader Tina Lannin, he said to his bride: "I'm ready for a drink now."

When the horse-drawn carriage entered Windsor Castle, it turned right and for the first time since midday the couple were obscured from public view.

Just after 1.30pm, the carriage disappeared under an arch within the grounds. The couple's guests could also be seen arriving for the reception.

The carriage

The newlyweds travelled in the same carriage Prince Harry used in the procession at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, when he was surrounded by small bridesmaids and page boys.

His own wedding procession used just the one open-topped carriage, meaning the public did not see the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Speaking ahead of the big day, Kensington Palace said: "Prince Harry and Ms Markle are very much looking forward to this short journey which they hope will be a memorable moment for everyone who has gathered together in Windsor to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day."

Crown Equerry Colonel Toby Browne, who runs the royal mews, said the type of carriage chosen is one Harry knows well as two Landaus were used during William and Kate's carriage procession after they married in 2011.

Col Browne said: "He was best man at his brother's wedding so he rode in one of these with the bridesmaids and pages as part of the procession following the wedding.

"But he's also been in the Queen's procession at the royal meeting at Ascot, so he's ridden in these quite regularly."

Six horses, Windsor Greys, were included the procession ride.

A team of four, Milford Haven, Plymouth and father and son Storm and Tyrone, pulled the Landau and two others - Sir Basil and Londonderry - were outriders.

All have been involved in high profile events before, including the Spanish state visit last year, Royal Ascot, Trooping the Colour, the State Opening of Parliament and the Lord Mayor's Show.

Storm is a veteran of Royal weddings, also working on the streets of London for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.

Philip Barnard-Brown, Senior Coachman to the Queen, will ride Milford Haven for the procession and describes him as a “special horse”.

He said: “He normally has a lead position because he’s a very quiet horse and you’ll naturally try and put your quietest horses in the lead.

“Because it’s going to be a very busy day and very noisy, we always choose our safest, most reliable horses. We tend to go for the older horses that have been around and done it before and we know are reliable.”

Why was there a procession?

The journey is designed to allow members of the public to see the newlyweds in person while they are still dressed in their finery, in what is likely to be one of the most photographed occasions of the year.

Such a display of ceremonial prowess has been used by kings and queens for centuries to celebrate as much as it has been used to impress their subjects and foreign powers. Be that with gun salutes, marching guards, or golden carriages.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their wedding carriage procession in 2011Credit:
Matt Cardy/AP

There is no doubt that this royal wedding will pack a punch, just like Queen Victoria's marriage to Albert which featured a 21-gun salute as she embarked on her carriage procession at St Jame's Palace.

But it was not until King George VI's marriage to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 that royal weddings became public affairs; they were married to great fanfare in order to lift the spirits of the nation after World War One (and royal weddings have been lavish events ever since).

Where did the procession go?

Royal wedding processions in history

The monarchy has embarked on grand processions from coronations, marriages, funerals and other state occasions since the 15th century.

Each year, a carriage procession carries the Queen to the State Opening of Parliament and the races at Ascot, although royal weddings and coronations are arguably the grandest occasions.

The last royal couple to undertake a carriage procession in Windsor was Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones – now the Earl and Countess of Wessex – after their wedding in St George's Chapel in 1999.

Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones pictured in their carriage after their wedding in 1999Credit:
SINEAD LYNCH/EPA

It was the biggest occasion in the Berkshire town since since the funeral of King George VI in 1952.

More recently, the newly-wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled through Westminster in a 1902 State Landau after their 2011 wedding, waving at thousands of well-wishers who had packed the streets to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.

It's possible Harry and Meghan could use the same carriage. Steeped in history, the carriage was specifically built for King Edward VII in 1902 and is usually used by the Queen to meet foreign heads of state when they arrive on state visits to Britain.

The Prince and Princess of Wales used it to travel back from St Paul’s Cathedral after their 1981 royal wedding, as did the Duke and Duchess of York in 1986. It was also used by the Queen during her Silver Wedding anniversary celebrations in 1972 and in her Silver and Diamond Jubilees in 1977 and 2012.